Hulu Lands 'Little Fires Everywhere' Series That Features Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington
Hulu nabs Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere series adaptation, starring powerhouse Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. The project is from the latter's Hello Sunshine with ABC Signature Studios.
The adaptation project, which was announced early March, is ordered to have an eight-episode initial airing with Witherspoon and Washington as both actresses and executive producers. Liz Tigelaar will run the show and the script, and book author Celeste Ng will receive producing rights.
Joel Stillerman, Chief Content Officer at Hulu, said that bringing Little Fires Everywhere to its platform is appropriate because of its persuasive and culturally sensitive nature that is typical of Hulu's original contents.
Stillerman said that as soon as Witherspoon pitched the story through the Hello Sunshine Studio, which she founded in 2016, it was almost an instinct that they partner together.
Feminism On Screen
Little Fires Everywhere tells the story of a mixed-race baby adopted by Mia, a solo parent, and all of the drama surrounding their life. It highlights emotion and truth of a female-driven story that is the basis of Ng's work.
The book also deals with the relation of art in a person's journey to finding the identity and the danger of conforming to rules. The plot takes place in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where Ng was raised.
Witherspoon said that her team is poised that Hulu is the appropriate venue for the book adaptation due to its reputation for transforming literature into a quality TV show.
"We are confident that their talented team will use this story to spur a long-overdue dialogue around race, class, and what it means to be a mother," Witherspoon said.
The series is also in conjunction with ABC Signature and Simpson Street, Washington's recently established production company. The production team is yet to announce the premiere date for the pilot episode.
Little Fires Everywhere is included in Witherspoon's book club pick in 2017 prior to its official publication.
Powerhouse Women
Meanwhile, Washington's Hulu project is a follow-up to Scandal, which concludes its seventh season on April 19. She was nominated for an Emmy as Olivia Pope. The 41-year-old actress is also the first African-American to be given the best actress recognition in the past 18 years.
"We at Simpson Street are so proud to be part of this team to tell this extraordinary story inspired by Celeste Ng's phenomenal novel and we are thrilled to be embarking on this journey with Hulu," Washington said.
"As an actress, I am floored to have the opportunity to work alongside Reese Witherspoon exploring the rich themes of this story playing these dynamic characters," Washington continued.
